Networking By Association

A few quick facts to remember when using associations to build and navigate your network:

• Find
• Attend
• Serve

First, find those professional associations that meet your needs and fit with your strategy. Plus, hanging with people you know and like is a healthy thing.

Attend. You've joined, now be a part of the programs. Attend happy hours, luncheons, dinners. Meet people, arrange to go to coffee or lunch. Learn about the group by who is a part of it.

Serve. Being a volunteer or on a board of a professional association is not only a great use of your time, it is rewarding.

I'll be speaking in more detail about these concepts at the next IABC Dallas lunchon on 10/12. See you there (www.iabcdallas.com)

Relentless

Networking events this week: June 14-18, 2010

There are a number of networking events to take part in this week in the Dallas area. If I’ve missed anything, let me know, but here’s a good group to consider among many others (can’t cover them all, but hope to hit the high spots):

Wednesday, 6/16, you could be kept busy morning and night. First there is the North Dallas Chambers’ Annual Education Forum, featuring the superintendent of Dallas ISD, the Chancellor of the UNT System and the presidents of Texas A&M and UTD. The event runs 7:30 to 9:30 am at the Westin Park Central Hotel, 12720 Merit Drive, Dallas.

IABC Dallas joins the American Society of Media Photographers Dallas chapter for a networking happy hour on Wednesday, June 16, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., co-sponsored by Profoto and Bolt Productions. Always a good networking event. This one is at Bolt Productions, 1346 Chemical St.Dallas 75207.

Thursday, 6/17, has a couple of events, too. First, have lunch with Greg Farmer and his team at Farmer Business Systems at a lunch and learn program to show off new Xerox products and service plans. Yes, it is a sales program, but it does put people together and they serve lunch. And you might learn about some cool products. RSVP to http://www.xerox-event.com/rbl/farmersystems. The event is at 11am, at 3965 Beltline, Addison.

Then head over to visit Ann Windham and her team at Imagine Xhibits from 1 to 7. They are having their initial open house under their new brand. Come walk the red carpet and enjoy food and live music while you network. RSVP to 972-238-0635 or visit http://www.imaginexhibits.com for more info. Imagine Xhibits, 1633 Firman Drive, Richardson,75081

Friday is the NDCC’s 2010 Metroplex Growth Capital Conference, featuring Carl Sewell (yes, that Carl Sewell) and a panel discussion on funding sources. Event runs 7:45 am to 10:30am at the Westin Galleria, 13340 Dallas Parkway. For the Chamber events, visit www.ndcc.org or call 214-368-6485.

Happy networking.

Relentless

Managing your volunteer efforts

It is the best of things to do: you help an organization by lending them your skills. You get the satisfaction of having helped further a cause or organization.

However, it has it's pitfalls. Remember, you aren't being paid and it can't (shouldn't) infringe on your work time (if you have one; if you are in transition, be careful not to take too much time away from your search).

The good news is that volunteer activities have a way of working on an ebb and flow concept: if you can't do a task, don't be afraid to ask for help. The help also sees when things fall off and will jump in.

It always seems to work out, but you need to manage the time and effort just as you do your work flow.

Relentless

The Three Ps

My colleague, Rob Brown, reminded me of another mantra for networkers and business seekers: the three Ps.

• Patience
• Persistence
• Passion

Patience. Good things come to those of us who wait. It is really true.

Persistence. Keep at it. Don't be rude or impolite, but keep at it.

Passion. It's worth your time and energy, go for it and do it with wild abandon.

Relentless

Rob Brown is the principal in RDB Consulting, www.rdbconsulting.biz

Observing: More on Building Your Personal Brand

A great exercise in helping define your personal brand is to pay attention to what others say and note what they observe about you.

Our colleague, Robin McCasland of Buck Consultants, says to try this at home: sit with a colleague and use three words to describe each other. On paper:

• Describe yourself in three words
• How do others describe you? (in three words)
• Ask someone to describe you (in three words)

The results might be surprising, but it will give the both of you a simple starting place on who you are and what comprises your brand.

Relentless

Extracted from a presentation by Robin McCasland to IABC Dallas on July 10, 2009

Building Your Personal Brand

Your personal brand is who you are to the world. It is up to you to define it and shape it...and control it.

Robin McCasland of Buck Consultants advises that there are five things to keep in mind when you are building your personal brand:

1. Be choosy, be specific
2. Having an ego is not a crime
3. Pay attention to what others observe
4. Become part of a clique (get involved)
5. Get outside inspiration if you need it.

We'll take these on one at a time over the next few entries. This is good stuff and we all need to pay attention about how we are perceived by the world.

Relentless

This is an extract from a presentation by Robin McCasland of Buck Consultants given to the IABC Dallas chapter on 7/10/09.

Relentless Live at IABC

The Dallas chapter of IABC asked me to present to a members only breakfast this morning. What a great group!

It was an informal breakfast meeting of about 20 of us. Long-time and new members asked great questions and added even better comments. Hosted by Melinda Guravich at Mary Kay, Inc. HQ in North Dallas, it was a great opportunity to share the Top 10 Rules of Networking.

Thanks to all who attended. IABC Dallas appreciates your support and I appreciate your kind attention.

Relentless

Happy Hours

OK, so rubber chicken at lunch is not enough when it comes to making connections? Now we need to get out and drink in the early evening to make more connections?

Seriously, when you extend your networking strategy beyond lunchtime, you get into a different crowd. Let's face it, lunchtime isn't for everyone, what with busy schedules, errand running and people doing three and four jobs during work hours these days.

So, try a happy hour or two in your mix. Usually the format is two to three hours in length, it's standing up and walking around having five or ten-minute conversations with one person or small groups. And the topics are more open-ended and not just business topics. You'll meet more people and have more fun in a shorter time. Who knows, you might go on to dinner with some of the people you meet at the HH.

Some basic rules:

1. Try to limit your alcohol intact. A drink is fine, but know your limits.
2. Be polite. Listen more than talk.
3. Move around. Know when a conversation needs to end--or continue.

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, there are a number of Happy Hours that local groups hold, including:

• IABC Dallas Happy Hours, once a month, usually the third Wednesday (www.dallasiabc.com)
• DFW AMA Meet and Greets, once a month, usually the second Thursday (www.dfwama.com)
• NDCC AfterHours, quarterly (www.NDCC.org)

Have a good time and continue the connecting.

Relentless